California cuts major methane leaks as Trump turns his back on science

What you need to know: California continues to lead as the Trump administration moves to eliminate climate data-gathering satellites. The Golden State's innovative first-in-the-nation satellite project launched this spring has already helped resolve 10 large methane leaks, reducing emissions equivalent to removing about 18,000 gas-powered cars from California roads for a year.

AMAZON RAINFOREST, BRAZIL - Representing California this week at COP30 in Brazil, Governor Newsom announced that California's data from a new specialized methane-detecting satellite has already helped resolve 10 large methane leaks at oil and gas facilities across California since May - cutting pollution equivalent to taking 18,000 cars off the road for a year. The leaks are detected by cutting-edge sensors on the Tanager-1 satellite and tracked on a new publicly available CARB dashboard.

Donald Trump's trying to turn back the clock on cleaner air - silencing truth and gambling with our planet's future. California won't stand by and let that happen. We're cutting pollution, fostering innovation, and proving that facts and science still matter. California is advancing nation-leading technology and showing that our people, our economic future, and the health of our planet are worth fighting for.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Why it matters

Methane is the second-largest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions with a warming impact up to 80 times greater than carbon dioxide, and reducing it is critical to reaching our climate goals. Methane remains in the atmosphere for about a decade, which has two important implications: most damage occurs relatively quickly, and reducing those emissions will more quickly slow rising global temperatures.

The new methane-detecting satellite supports California's work to limit methane leaks and safeguard the health and well-being of Californians. That includes CARB's Oil and Gas Methane Regulation, which requires operators of oil and gas field equipment to inspect their systems every quarter and to repair above-ground leaks, and CARB's Landfill Methane Regulation, which requires large landfills to monitor and capture their methane emissions. The satellite enhances implementation and enforcement of these protections by allowing the state to detect and notify operators of leaks in close to real time.

"The latest data show that science-driven policy and innovation are moving California closer to our climate goals. Emissions are down; cleaner trucks are on the road and communities are breathing healthier air. Access to reliable data isn't just the foundation of progress. It's how we hold ourselves accountable and make smart choices for the future. As the Trump Administration moves to weaken national emissions reporting, California will continue to lead with transparency, integrity and results." said Yana Garcia, Secretary for Environmental Protection.

"California's Satellite Methane Project is a powerful example of research delivering real results for Californians and marks the start of a new era in how we track and cut methane emissions," said CARB Chair Lauren Sanchez. "CARB staff designed, built and has now deployed the project, which proves that states can and will step up to close the dangerous gaps in climate data and action being created by the U.S. EPA and others in the current federal administration."

California's first-in-the-nation satellite technology

California's satellite technology uses specialized sensors mounted on the satellite to find and track large plumes from methane leaks at facilities in the state. The methane detection technology was developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. CalSMP is the first major initiative to use the technology in a non-research and real-world setting. Three more satellites are expected to launch in 2026 and 2027.

Using satellite technology improves on CARB's previous method of aircraft monitoring, making monitoring of methane leaks more cost effective and efficient. The satellite provides a much wider view and passes over California 4-5 times a week and can recheck the status of leaks as needed. This repetition makes it possible to follow progress in fixing large methane leaks. It also helps to determine the amount of gas involved and the duration of a leak.

Stopping dangerous methane leaks

Once the data is received, addressing a leak can happen quickly. For example, in early July, California's methane satellite project data detected a leak that resulted from a piece of failing equipment in an oil and gas field in Kern County, which was quickly able to be repaired within 24 hours of operator notification. The public can also track ongoing monitoring and detections through CARB's new online dashboard tracking notifications and repairs.

A gas field leak in Kern County that was identified by the state's methane satellite and repaired within 24 hours in July 2025.

States step up as federal government stumbles

California's nation-leading technology is helping protect communities, advancing new strategies and innovations as the federal administration is actively attempting to blind climate science and hide data. The administration has quietly instructed NASA to begin deactivating two taxpayer-funded Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO) and threatened to destroy them. OCO-2 is a satellite for monitoring global levels of carbon dioxide while OCO-3 is a standalone unit attached to the International Space Station. At the same time, U.S. EPA is proposing to end the decade old Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.

CalSMP is intended to help California achieve its climate goals and increase data transparency. It is one of a suite of state initiatives which provide clear models demonstrating that Americans do not have to silently fall victim to the shocking and shortsighted federal effort to ignore the threat from our warming climate.

Through its global partnerships, California is expanding this work beyond its borders. Building on the Subnational Methane Action Coalition (SMAC) that California launched at COP28, CARB will work with coalition members to explore offering one-time satellite methane measurements in their jurisdictions, helping our partners detect and address major leaks using California's proven model.

With this work, California will continue to develop and rely upon scientifically backed facts to provide information to the public and inform its efforts to respond to climate change.